Five retired British police officers, all in their 60s, have confessed to sending offensive and racist messages on social media, targeting Prince Harry’s wife, Meghan Markle, and other members of the royal family. Their arrests came following a BBC investigation last year, which subsequently triggered an internal police inquiry.
The charges against them specify that the offensive messages were posted in a closed WhatsApp group, referencing Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Prince William, Kate Middleton, the late Queen Elizabeth II, and her late husband, Prince Philip. Additionally, some messages mentioned prominent UK figures, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, former Home Secretary Priti Patel, and former Health Secretary Sajid Javid.
The individuals involved, namely Robert Lewis, Peter Booth, Anthony Elsom, Alan Hall, and Trevor Lewton, pleaded guilty at London’s Westminster Magistrates’ Court to the charge of sending grossly offensive racist messages via public communication. All of them had served in London’s Metropolitan Police department and had been part of the force’s Parliamentary and Diplomatic Protection branch, responsible for safeguarding politicians and diplomats. It’s important to note that none of the suspects were serving as police officers at the time of sending the messages, which occurred between 2020 and 2022.
A sixth former officer, Michael Chadwell, has denied one count of the same charge and is scheduled to stand trial on November 6. The sentencing for the other five individuals is also set for the same day.
Meghan Markle, a biracial American actress, married Prince Harry, the grandson of Queen Elizabeth II, in 2018 at Windsor Castle. However, in early 2020, the couple decided to step away from their royal duties and left the United Kingdom, citing what they described as the intrusive and racist behavior of the British media as the primary reason for their departure.